14101386D Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That §53.1-234 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: §53.1-234. Transfer of prisoner; how death sentence executed; who to be present. The clerk of the circuit court in which is pronounced the sentence of death against any person shall, after such judgment becomes final in the circuit court, deliver a certified copy thereof to the Director. Such person so sentenced to death shall be confined prior to the execution of the sentence in a state correctional facility designated by the Director. Prior to the time fixed in the judgment of the court for the execution of the sentence, the Director shall cause the condemned prisoner to be conveyed to the state correctional facility housing the death chamber. The Director, or the assistants appointed by him, shall at the
time named in the sentence, unless a suspension of execution is ordered, cause
the prisoner under sentence of death to be electrocuted or injected with a
lethal substance, until he is dead. The method of execution shall be chosen by
the prisoner. In the event the prisoner refuses to make a choice at least |